What’s it all about?

Limejump are one of the great UK cleantech start-up stories. Recently acquired by Shell Ventures, the company continues to grow and play an active part in the clean energy transition. I talk to CEO and Co-Founder Erik Nygard about the company journey, including how they helped in the recent UK blackout, the future of energy and the part AI will play, how is life as a cleantech start up owned by an Oil major, and his optimism for the future.

About our guest

Erik Nygard – CEO & Co-Founder – Limejump. Erik has worked for Centrica and British Gas; while at Centrica it became clear to him that people did not have much opportunity to try and be more proactive when managing their electricity. Therefore, he decided to set up Limejump, knowing that there was a definite opportunity to provide a better product and proposition for customers. Most recently Limejump has won the Bloomberg New Energy Pioneer award for 2018, S&P Platts Rising Star 2018 and WIRED London Smarter Energy Stage and manages the largest portfolio of battery assets in the United Kingdom. Erik has led the development of the Limejump Virtual Power Plant (VPP) concept to create the Future of Energy. Alumni of University of San Francisco, BSC in Finance an MSC and Cass School in London – Energy Trade finance.

Limejump is a wholly owned, independent subsidiary of Shell New Energies.

Follow us online, write a review (please) or subscribe I’m very keen to hear feedback on the podcast and my guests, and to hear your suggestions for future guests or topics. Contact via the website, or Twitter.

If you do enjoy the podcast, please write a review on iTunes, or your usual podcast platform, and tell your cleantech friends about us. That would be much appreciated.

What’s it all about?

I first heard Billy Wu speak at a renewable energy event in London about four years, and my inner battery nerd was born and thrust into the world. Dr Billy has the knack of being a fully fledged Dr of batteries, whilst being able to articulate to non scientific nerds like me, and possibly you, if you are reading this. We talk batteries, supercapacitors, and of course Hydrogen Fuel Cells, where we are, what’s next, and who will win!

About our guest

Dr. Billy Wu is a senior lecturer in the Dyson School of Design Engineering at Imperial College London where he co-leads the Electrochemical Science and Engineering group. His research activities include: energy storage/conversion technologies (lithium-ion batteries, redox flow cells, supercapacitors and fuel cells) and manufacturing (3D printing, nanofibre electrospinning).

He has published 35 peer reviewed journal papers, 2 book chapters and 4 patents since completing his PhD in 2014 and sits on the editorial board of Scientific Reports. He has been an investigator in research projects worth in excess of £46M, directly managing a budget of >£2M and is a co-investigator for the UK Faraday Institution battery research centre. He directly leads a team of 7 post-docs and 6 PhD students within the wider Electrochemical Science and Engineering group which has >50 researchers. Prior to his PhD in automotive proton exchange membrane fuel cell-lithium-ion battery hybrid systems, he completed his masters in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College London in 2010.

What’s it all about?

Martin Baart has a passion to bring solar projects to the Commercial and Industrial (C&I) sector in emerging markets. Fighting against local misconceptions about what solar can do, and bigger issues around how to fund such projects, they found a solution through crowdfunding, and transparency in all areas of the business. Martin and ecoligo have a great business and story to tell.

About our guest

Martin Baart has more than 14 years of experience in the renewable energy industry with more than 10 years in emerging markets. He started his career with a German regional municipality on grid integration of grid-scale solar PV projects. During his Masters he lived and worked in Australia for the global leader in Microgrids, Powercorp, on the technical integration of solar and wind solutions into Microgrids, mainly for remote communities, mining operations and island utilities. Moving into business development he opened up the European office for Powercorp. After successfully entering the market, he supported the management in its sale of the business to ABB. For ABB he build up the Microgrid business unit in Madrid, after which he left to join Berlin based Start-up OneShore Energy as CTO and first employee. With them he developed the East African markets and technologies suited for the risk minimization of Off-Grid Solar PPA’S. After building up the company, he left in 2015 to prepare for the foundation of ecoligo, addressing the key barrier for solar projects in emerging markets: a fully serviced and financed solution, taking away all worries from the clients. Since then, he led the business into regional hubs in Central America, West Africa and East Africa and introduced the solution also for energy efficiency projects in the markets.

Martin is a qualified Electronics Technician, has a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Trier University of Applied Science, a Master of Business and Engineering from Steinbeis University in Berlin and a Global Executive Master of Business Administration from IE business school in Madrid. He also is a Certified Expert for Climate & Renewable Energy Finance from Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.

ecoligo provides a fully financed solar-as-a-service solution for businesses in emerging markets. With a complete digital platform for financing and delivering solar projects, ecoligo removes the barriers that prevent such projects from being realised. Supplying businesses with affordable electricity enables them to grow and boost the local economy. The solar projects are financed through the crowdinvesting platform www.ecoligo.investments, offering fixed and attractive returns to private investors. Investments start from 100€ and save tonnes of CO2 emissions, enabling impactful citizen participation in the global energy transition.

What’s it all about?

This week I catch up with Alisa Murphy of Life Size, and extract a confession from her early pre-Cleantech career. We discuss her start-up journey and challenges, including the opening overseas business units. We also chat about her tips and advice for any cleantech company on how to manage your communications, and to stand out from the crowd.

About our guest

Alisa Murphy is CEO and Founder of Life Size, one of the only communications agencies in Europe that works exclusively in cleantech. For nearly 10 years, Life Size has used communications to help build market-leading cleantech companies. The company is focused on growth-stage companies and builds campaigns around significant commercial goals including raising finance, planning for exit, driving sales and international expansion. Life Size has offices in London and Berlin and works with clients across the continent. The company also works closely with several venture capital funds.

Alisa has built an international team from very different paths, though all share a desire to do stimulating work that matters. The agile working culture and common ambitions at Life Size make for an agency which not only fights for global sustainability, but lives for it too. Alisa is certain that the role of communications is crucial for business success and shares this belief through workshops, keynote speeches, videos and webinars.

Before Life Size, Alisa was the CEO of a clean energy start-up in the carbon capture industry, where she led a major media campaign and engaged with industry and government to promote awareness of new decarbonising technology. Prior to that, Alisa’s eclectic background included co-founding Life Slice Films, an independent film company producing documentary films to raise awareness of social issues.

Alisa doesn’t often admit this, but she originally trained as an actor, studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and subsequently working in film, television and theatre for several years. The connecting threads throughout her career are her belief in the power of good storytelling and desire to positively impact audiences. Her background is unusual inthis industry and her punchy attitude a breath of fresh air against an often-traditional demographic.

When she’s not thinking about ways for cleantech to proliferate the mainstream, Alisa is a wife and mother, plus is currently learning German.

News stories discussed this week

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I’m very keen to hear feedback on the podcast and my guests, and to hear your suggestions for future guests or topics. Contact via the website, or Twitter. If you do enjoy the podcast, please write a review on iTunes, or your usual podcast platform, and tell your cleantech friends about us. That would be much appreciated.

What’s it all about?

This week I travel to one of my favourite cities, Berlin, in a balmy 36C degree heat, to meet sonnen CEO Christoph Ostermann. The sonnen story is a highlight of the cleantech sector, from bootstrapping, through many rounds of fundraising, to a significant sized acquisition from Shell. I’m delighted to have worked with sonnen as a client, since their first expansion out of Germany, and to meet Christoph again to share this super success story.

About our guest

Christoph Ostermann is Co-Founder and CEO of sonnen, the global market leader for residential energy storage systems. In 2008, when even in Germany the market for storage systems was still non-existent, he and his co-founder Torsten Stiefenhofer decided to join forces and to use their complementary skills to turn their vision into reality. Since the launch of the first prototype in 2010, Christoph is now on the mission to create a global one stop shop for decentralized energy and to disrupt the energy market. Christoph is a serial entrepreneur and started his first venture at the age of 18. Before launching sonnen, he had already built and developed four companies. In addition, Christoph spent five years in consulting, focussing on marketing and sales. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration.

The sonnen Group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of smart energy storage systems and a pioneer of clean, decentralised and networked energy system technologies. As one of the fastest growing tech companies in Europe, sonnen has received numerous internationally recognized awards. With its virtual battery, which consists of digitally networked home storage systems, sonnen offers new and highly innovative energy services for network operators and customers. sonnen’s products are available in many countries and has offices located in Germany, Italy, Australia, the UK and the USA.

News stories discussed this week

Follow us online, write a review (please) or subscribe

I’m very keen to hear feedback on the podcast and my guests, and to hear your suggestions for future guests or topics. Contact via the website, or Twitter. If you do enjoy the podcast, please write a review on iTunes, or your usual podcast platform, and tell your cleantech friends about us. That would be much appreciated.

What’s it all about?

Some things make you feel old. Meeting Martijn Lammers, and fellow C0-Founder and CEO Lex Hoefsloot at their Eindhoven site was just one such thing. Martijn, at 28 years old is one of the ‘oldies’ in the founding team. Their soon to be launched (June 19) solar powered car is amazing to see (It’s beautiful, I got a sneak peek) and more so given it has been created by a very young team with no automotive sector experience. We discuss the start-up journey and challenges to get to this point.

About our guest

Martijn Lammers is one of the founders of Lightyear, he is currently responsible for strategy. After having won the World Solar Challenge with a team of students, and gradating his masters in industrial design from Eindhoven University of Technology, he founded Lightyear with a team of 5 aiming to accelerate the adoption of electric cars. More specifically, Lightyears mission is to provide clean mobility for everyone. Their first car, Lightyear One, is an ultra-efficient car with solar cells integrated in the hood and roof of the car. Due to its efficiency, Lightyear One is partly self-sufficient, and can be charged by normal outlet at any other time ensuring it can independent of charging infrastructure. Lightyear One is in an exclusive segment costing €119.000 before taxes, enabling Lightyear to deliver a truly ground breaking product and developing the necessary technology to match

Lightyear is working with a team of 130 people based in Helmond, the Netherlands combining young and experienced A-players to form a strong team capable of achieving Lightyear’s mission. Lightyear is currently in the process of building its first full prototype, to be completed in the second half of this year. The launch of this prototype will also be Lightyears launch to the public. Since the inception of Lightyear, there has also been a focus on the commercial validation of the concept as well resulting in over 80 Lightyear One’s to be reserved and paid for. This group of ambassadors forms a strong backbone of Lightyears success so far.

Follow us online, write a review (please) or subscribe

I’m very keen to hear feedback on the podcast and my guests, and to hear your suggestions for future guests or topics. Contact via the website, or Twitter. If you do enjoy the podcast, please write a review on iTunes, or your usual podcast platform, and tell your cleantech friends about us. That would be much appreciated.

What’s it all about?

On route to Boston, via London, I took the opportunity to meet Javier Cavada at the Highview Power offices in central London. We thought we might be able to break some big news, but alas that will have to wait for a future episode, but nonetheless we had a great conversation around long duration energy storage, and the prospects of a 100% renewable energy grid.

About our guest

Dr. Javier Cavada joined Highview Power as CEO and President in September 2018 with the mission to drive the ambitious global expansion strategy for the company’s proprietary cryogenic energy storage technology. Cavada previously spent 17 years in leadership positions at Wärtsilä Corporation, one of the world’s top technology companies in the energy market. As president of Wärtsilä’s energy division and member of the corporation’s executive board, Cavada led the company’s drive toward 100% renewables, spearheading a deep transformation that enabled the company to become a leading system integrator.

Under Cavada’s leadership, Wärtsilä’s global market share in gas and liquid fuel power plants grew from nine percent to 21 percent. His long career at Wärtsilä also included extensive international experience, including executive roles in China, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Finland. In combination with these executive roles, Cavada chaired the board of Greensmith Energy Management Inc. He has also held leadership roles within the German multinational firm Robert Bosch in the fields of automotive technology and manufacturing. Cavada holds a PhD in industrial engineering and among other awards has been recognized as a Distinguished Alumni by the University of Cantabria in Spain.

Highview Power is a designer and developer of a proprietary cryogenic energy storage technology that delivers reliable and cost-effective long-duration energy storage to enable a 100% renewable energy future. Its proprietary technology uses liquid air as the storage medium and can deliver anywhere from 20 MW/80 MWh to more than 200 MW/1.2 GWh of energy has a lifespan of 30 to 40 years. Developed using proven components from mature industries, it delivers pumped-hydro capabilities without geographical constraints and can be configured to convert waste heat and cold to power.

News stories discussed this week

Follow us online, write a review (please) or subscribe

I’m very keen to hear feedback on the podcast and my guests, and to hear your suggestions for future guests or topics. Contact via the website, or Twitter. If you do enjoy the podcast, please write a review on iTunes, or your usual podcast platform, and tell your cleantech friends about us. That would be much appreciated.

What’s it all about?

It’s great when you hear big success stories from the back of beyond. Meeting at the myenergi offices in a beautiful part of Lincolnshire, it was great to see this rapidly growing start-up at this stage of their growth. Jordan Brompton is a larger than life personality in the UK EV Charging sector, but like her hero Elon Musk, she has much bigger plans. We discuss those, and her motto ‘What would Elon do?’.

About our guest

Jordan is one of these people who is so passionate about life. Anything that is giving a good message for the future of our planet and sustainability she is all for. Jordan has always had a very entrepreneurial spirit starting work at a very young age and naturally progressing within any company she has ever worked for to managerial status quickly.

Her background consists of radio presenting, renewable energy sales, education, to setting up her own business up in Distribution of cycling products.

Lee and Jordan linked back in 2011 during Lee’s time with the company 4eco the manufacturer of an eco-power diverter that heats the home owner’s immersion heater with surplus solar power. Jordan really found her passion within the Renewable Industry and knew this is where she belonged, Jordan brought the company millions of pounds worth of sales within her 2-year period in the company.

Jordan has been instrumental in the success of myenergi really driving the brand forward and pushing it out to a very large audience, within minimal time and with a minimal budget.

Lee and Jordan have created a market leading brand out of their little base in Binbrook/ Lincolnshire. Lee develops the products with his team, Jordan brings them to market, they’re the ultimate dream team, or pinky and the brain as Jordan often describes them both. The pair have grown the company from a small team of 6 to now just under 50 people, attracting investment from prestigious businessmen Sir Terry Leahy (Ex CEO of Tesco) & Bill Currie of the William Currie Group.

The pair invested £1.2 million to help the team grow, manage cash flow and secure components overseas to meet demand.

On a personal level Jordan has done a lot of travelling and has been around the world and back, her favourite place being California. She adores her husband, family and friends and is about to birth her first child. Jordan loves anything spiritual or ‘conspiracy based’. She classes herself as awakened & conscious. She listens to Podcasts her favourite being Joe Rogan and is a huge fan of Elon Musk’s work.

Jordan see’s herself with the myenergi brand way into the future, it’s her personal mission to turn it into a global trusted household name, being a big part of the energy and transport revolution.

Follow us online, write a review (please) or subscribe

I’m very keen to hear feedback on the podcast and my guests, and to hear your suggestions for future guests or topics. Contact via the website, or Twitter. If you do enjoy the podcast, please write a review on iTunes, or your usual podcast platform, and tell your cleantech friends about us. That would be much appreciated.

What’s it all about?

Toddington’s story is one of the most interesting and uplifting I’ve come across. I knew of Toddington from before GRIDSERVE, whilst leading Belectric in the UK, and his passion for solar energy developments. We record this podcast just as news breaks of the first subsidy free large scale solar PV developments in the UK, which will also in time co-locate with battery energy storage, and most exciting of all, their Electric Forecourts plan for EV charging destinations. Sit back and enjoy.

About our guest

Toddington Harper, CEO of GRIDSERVE, is an experienced clean-energy entrepreneur, executive and investor with more than 16 years of CEO experience across five sustainable energy companies. Toddington has developed and built over 350MW of solar and battery projects in the UK generating in excess of £200M of revenues over a 4-year period. He was previously the co-founder and CEO of BELECTRIC UK before selling the business to RWE Innogy in December 2016.

GRIDSERVE is a tech-enabled international sustainable energy business which develops, builds, owns and operates solar energy and battery storage solutions for critical power infrastructure. GRIDSERVE’s team have been responsible for the development, construction and operation of more than a gigawatt of solar energy and energy storage solutions, including connecting over 100 utility-scale sustainable energy projects to the UK grid.

GRIDSERVE is interested in exploring new project opportunities, funding partners, and making new connections, for both hybrid solar farms and Electric Forecourts®

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I’m very keen to hear feedback on the podcast and my guests, and to hear your suggestions for future guests or topics. Contact via the website, or Twitter. If you do enjoy the podcast, please write a review on iTunes, or your usual podcast platform, and tell your cleantech friends about us. That would be much appreciated.

About our guest

This week David talks to Devrim Celal, CEO of Upside Energy.

Devrim is a highly successful, award winning entrepreneur with a career spanning leadership role in technology, finance and energy.

Educated in Paris, London and Yale, where he was a Fulbright scholar, Devrim has since held senior roles at A T Kearney where he led strategy development, Sapient where he established the European operations and as a partner at Lansdowne Corporate Finance. He is now CEO of UK energy tech company Upside Energy, leading the organisation from its initial days as a start up to its dynamic growth in this fast-growing sector. He is an avid athlete having been a regular competitor in endurance running events. He runs to promote awareness of and raise funds for MS related charities.

Working in the cloud, in real-time, the Upside Platform can respond rapidly to market signals and deploy new solutions as the energy system evolves. This means we can give our customers immediate visibility of their energy usage and device performance, identifying opportunities as they emerge. The Upside Platform can connect to a wide range of devices, including battery storage systems, electric vehicles, UPS and heating and cooling systems. Providing real-time data and advanced forecasting, it enables our customers to fully optimise their return on investment and market positioning, by dispatching demand-side flexibility in real-time.

Follow us online, write a review (please) or subscribe

I’m very keen to hear feedback on the podcast and my guests, and to hear your suggestions for future guests or topics. Contact via the website, or Twitter. If you do enjoy the podcast, please write a review on iTunes, or your usual podcast platform, and tell your cleantech friends about us. That would be much appreciated.